cab ride

EXT. GALAXY MOTEL - EARLY MORNING

On the hardscrabble desert landscape Galaxy Inn, a shanty one level motel in need of repair, sits in the still dry air. Lights on the Motel sign flicker as a car whisks by breaking the silence.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

(gruffly whispering)I can barely remember a time when I wasn't traveling. Feels awkward using the word “travel...” that means you have to arrive... Most people travel to get away but, eventually they arrive at a place of some sort. A destination infused with sentiment.

(clearing throat...)

Any other hundred places have something missing. They’re just not home.

A cab pulls up to room 44.

INT. GALAXY MOTEL ROOM 44 - 5 AM

The digital alarm clock sounds off with an annoying Beep.

The clock says four AM. BILL, an older man, gets out of a shower and leans into the mirror and inspects his face.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

I’ve been gone so long I can’t remember what home looks like...It’s hard to ponder the past when, every time you look in the mirror you’re living someone else’s past.

With a vacant expression on his face BILL, an overweight man missing his pointer, middle and ring finger, buttons up a shirt and grabs the jacket off a chair by the door.

He opens the front door slowly then looks back at the room combing it over.

EXT. GALAXY MOTEL ROOM 44 - DUSK

The door opens and BILL gazes out at the road. He hears a whistle.

CAB DRIVER

Hey... buddy.

The cab driver is right in front of BILL.

He waves at BILL trying to get his attention. Bill walks up to the cab and the driver’s head leans out the window.

CAB DRIVER

I already got your luggage... it’s in the trunk.

BILL

What?

CAB DRIVER

(louder)

Your luggage...

I loaded it for you already.

BILL looks out on the road then back at the driver who is now opening his door.

CAB DRIVER

That case you got is pretty heavy. I could only imagine how fun it would be to carry around without wheels. Here you go sir...

(opening the door)

BILL climbs in the back of the cab.

INT. TAXI CAB - DUSK

The interior of the cab looks cheap but, clean.

BILL

What luggage.

CAB DRIVER

(thrown off)

That big black trunk. I put it in the back.

A pine tree air freshener dangles from the cab’s rear view mirror. Bill looks at a picture of a naked woman stuck to the dash.

CAB DRIVER

She can make any man feel a little better.

BILL

Can you put the cigarette out?

Bill turns to peer out the cab window. The driver lights up a cigarette.

CAB DRIVER

Seems you had one hell of a night. Of course it is early as hell.

The cab driver’s radio scratches out a muffled voice and he picks up the CB radio.

CB RADIO

(muffled)

Car thirty four. Distance and local.

CAB DRIVER

I got him. We are on our way.

BILL

Where are we going?

CAB DRIVER

(laughing)

To the airport. Jesus... you seem out of it this morning.

The cab driver looks back at Bill through the rearview mirror. Bill stares out onto the road.

Bill shakes his head and the cab driver takes a swig.

BILL

Let me ask you something.

CAB DRIVER

Shoot.

BILL

Why the airport?

The cab driver laughs.

CAB DRIVER

It’s your flight.

The driver lights up a cigarette.

BILL

What airport?

CAB DRIVER

The only one in the fucking desert. Look around you kid.

BILL

What’s my name?

CAB DRIVER

What kind of question is that?

BILL

Stop the cab.

The cab driver pulls over to the side of the road.

BILL

I asked a simple question... Now you said I called ahead. Well, what name did I give you... Can you answer the question or not?

CAB DRIVER

BILL! I don’t know your last name you never give it.

BILL

(upset)

Then how do you know me?

CAB DRIVER

Every morning for the past month I’ve been taking you to the airport.

The cab driver pauses.

CAB DRIVER

Now where you go from there I don’t know but, you usually tip me pretty well. That’s what I remember the most. You want to go to the airport or not?

The cab pulls back onto the highway.

EXT. AIRPORT - MORNING

The cab approaches a small airport as a plane touches down on a lit runway. The sky is dark and thunder cracks as rain begins to pour.

INT. CAB - MORNING

CAB DRIVER

We’re here.

The cab driver looks at his watch then in the rearview mirror.

CAB DRIVER

Right on time. That’ll be twenty two fifty.

Bill reaches into his jacket and pulls out a ticket and wad of one hundred dollar bills. He opens the ticket. The ticket reads one way. The departure time is 6 AM and the destination is blank.

CAB DRIVER

Hey, you awake?

The cab driver looks back at Bill snaps his fingers and waits for a response.

BILL

Yeah. Keep the change.

Without looking up from the ticket Bill hands the cab driver the cash and steps out of the door.

CAB DRIVER

Thanks! See you tomorrow.

Bill looks at the steps of a small passenger plane. The tires peel out and he turns back to watch the cab drive away.